Cod Almighty | Diary

Extraneous references to Welsh rugby: one

21 January 2020

Students of ancient football mythology have described a rich, Arthurian folkore told by firelight in different parts of the country. It concerns a striped traveller from the flat lands beyond the hills. To the west, this nomadic venturer can save their club from defeat. In the east, the tale is told quite differently: it is the traveller in need of regeneration, after too long spent in enforced idleness.

Not since the days of Wilkinson and Lund have Grimsby strikers been so well-regarded outside Lincolnshire as they are in the Lancashire town of Chorley. Charles Vernam had a huge impact there before Christmas and we have been feeling the benefit ever since. On Friday Harry Cardwell followed in his footsteps on a month's loan.

He was actually subbed off after 25 minutes on Saturday, but we can dismiss thoughts this is because he stank. The reports say he had made a bright start and scored a good goal before his withdrawal. Assuming Cardwell was injured, let's hope it wasn't too serious. His contract at Blundell Park is up this summer and he must be uncomfortably aware he is running out of time to make a good impression.

Also out on a month's loan, and definitely injured is third-choice goalkeeper Ollie (no relation) Battersby. He played for Mickleover Sports at the weekend with a fractured hand. He thus earns a certain kudos, and at least time is on his side, but the injury must be frustrating for all parties.

Cardwell and Battersby are therefore at least appendices to a long-ish injury list at Blundell Park. Back on that list is Ahkeem Rose, with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. No one is going to thank Middle-Aged Diary for this, but I have to say that if he has been accurately reported, Ian Holloway might have picked his words better than to say "He's from Jamaica, and sometimes those people over there have got inherent problems with their hamstrings."

The reference to Jamaica- a small island which produces a ridiculous number of successful sprinters - is quite gratuitous. It sounds like Rose has similar kinds of issues to the ones which bedevilled Michael Owen (The Liverpool and England forward, not the Wales number eight) and others who play on their pace and acceleration. I am not accusing Holloway of anything, but let's not give the numbskulls any grounds for dressing up their prejudices.

Because there are numbskulls who follow Town, but there are fine people too, and those fine people raised £5,000 in no time to ensure our disabled supporters can get to away games. Congratulations to John Tondeur and Dale Ladson for making it happen and get over to the official site if you want to contribute.

So much left unsaid, but let's end with Grimsby Town Women who at the weekend won their Lincolnshire Cup quarter final against Grantham by 10 goals to nil. They have been drawn at home to Cleethorpes Town for the semi-final. The match will be played on 16 February. The venue is yet to be determined: surely every effort is being made to get the game played at Blundell Park. It'll be a great occasion for the area's football community.